Domestic hot water supply system

ABSTRACT

A domestic hot water supply system, comprising a water heater, a cold water pipe and a hot water pipe connected to the water heater respectively at one end, wherein the cold water pipe is connected to a water main at another end, and one or more water points are arranged in parallel between the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe, wherein a water pump is arranged between the water heater and the water point closest to the water heater on the hot water pipe, the water pump has a control module, the control module includes a signal receiver, a check valve is disposed at a farthest water point from the water heater between the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe, and a temperature sensor is disposed on the side of the check valve adjacent to the hot water pipe, the temperature sensor includes a signal transmitter.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The application relates to a water supply system, in particular to a domestic hot water supply system.

BACKGROUND

People often need to use hot water when washing their hands in the winter or in other scenes. At present, with some hot water supply systems used at home, especially in some old buildings, people usually need to discharge some cold water left in the hot water pipe until the water gets hot. This process will waste a lot of water and require users to wait. Even if some users have the idea of modifying the hot water supply system, the hot water supply system on the market often needs to install a return pipe or replace the water heater, which is awkward for many users. At the same time, with the popularity of smart homes, many users hope to be able to operate the water heaters on the way home, so that they can use hot water when they return home.

SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE

In order to solve the above technical problems, the application provides a domestic hot water supply system, which can supply hot water immediately with not need of a return water pipe, which is convenient to modify the water supply systems in old buildings. At the same time, the domestic hot water supply system of the present invention can be operated remotely.

The technical solutions are as follows:

A domestic hot water supply system, comprising a water heater, a cold water pipe and a hot water pipe connected to the water heater respectively at one end, wherein the cold water pipe is connected to a water main at another end, and one or more water points are arranged in parallel between the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe, wherein a water pump is arranged between the water heater and the water point closest to the water heater on the hot water pipe, the water pump has a control module, the control module includes a signal receiver, a check valve is disposed at a farthest water point from the water heater between the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe, and a temperature sensor is disposed on the side of the check valve adjacent to the hot water pipe, and the temperature sensor includes a signal transmitter.

A signal sent by the signal transmitter is received by the signal receiver, and the signal sent by the signal transmitter includes the information of temperature detected by the temperature sensor, and the water pump takes actions according to the information of temperature fed back by the temperature sensor, when the temperature fed back is lower than the lower limit of a preset temperature range, the control module controls the water pump to start, and when the temperature fed back is greater than or equal to the lower limit of the preset temperature range, the control module does not start the water pump.

The communication between the signal transmitter and the signal receiver is based on ZigBee, Wi-Fi, LoRa, NB-IoT or Bluetooth protocols.

As an improvement to the above technical solution, a check valve is disposed between the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe at each water point, and a temperature sensor is disposed on the side of the check valve adjacent to the hot water pipe, and the temperature sensor includes a signal transmitter.

As an improvement to the above technical solution, the temperature sensor further includes a power source module.

As a further improvement to the above technical solution, the power source module is self-powered.

Optionally, the power source module includes a plug.

As an improvement to the above technical solution, the temperature sensor further includes a temperature display.

As an improvement to the above technical solution, the check valve is a solenoid valve.

As an improvement to the above technical solution, the water main is connected to the cold water pipe and a cold water inlet of the water heater through a three-way pipe.

As a further improvement to the above technical solution, two valves are disposed respectively at downstream positions of the three-way pipe connected to the cold water pipe and the cold water inlet of the water heater.

The domestic hot water supply system in the present application can supply hot water immediately with not need of a return water pipe, which is convenient to modify the water supply systems in old buildings. At the same time, the domestic hot water supply system of the present invention can be operated remotely.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of the domestic hot water supply system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation of one embodiment of the domestic hot water supply system in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, so that those skilled in the art can understand the present invention and implement it, but the embodiments are not intended to limit the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a specific embodiment of the domestic hot water supply system according to the present invention is shown, wherein the arrow in the figure indicates the direction of water flow. In this embodiment, the domestic hot water supply system includes a water heater 1, a cold water pipe 2 and a hot water pipe 3 connected to the water heater 1 respectively, the cold water pipe 2 is connected to the water main 4, and three water points 5, 6, and 7 are set. Of course, the three water points are only an example in this embodiment, and those skilled in the art can set more or less water points according to actual needs. On the hot water pipe 3, a water pump 8 is provided between the water heater 1 and the water point 5 closest to the water heater, and the water pump 8 has a control module, which includes a signal receiver, and a check valve 9 is disposed between the cold water pipe 2 and the hot water pipe 3 at the water point 7 farthest from the water heater 1, and a temperature sensor 91 is disposed on the side of the check valve 9 adjacent to the hot water pipe 3, and the temperature sensor 91 includes a signal transmitter. A signal sent by the signal transmitter is received by the signal receiver, and the signal sent by the signal transmitter includes the information of temperature detected by the temperature sensor 91, and the water pump 8 takes actions according to the information of temperature fed back by the temperature sensor 91, when the temperature fed back is lower than the lower limit of a preset temperature range, the control module controls the water pump 8 to start, and when the temperature fed back is greater than or equal to the lower limit of the preset temperature range, the control module does not start the water pump 8.

The communication between the signal transmitter and the signal receiver is based on ZigBee, Wi-Fi, LoRa, NB-IoT or Bluetooth protocols.

In a preferred embodiment, a check valve 9 is disposed between the cold water pipe 2 and the hot water pipe 3 at each water point 5, 6, 7, and a temperature sensor 91 is disposed on the side of the check valve 9 adjacent to the hot water pipe 3, and the temperature sensor 91 includes a signal transmitter.

In a preferred embodiment, the temperature sensor 91 further includes a power source module.

In one of the embodiments, the power source module is self-powered.

In another embodiment, the power source module includes a plug.

In a preferred embodiment, the temperature sensor 91 also includes a temperature display.

In an alternative embodiment, the check valve is a solenoid valve.

In a preferred embodiment, the water main 4 is connected to the cold water pipe 2 and a cold water inlet of the water heater 1 through a three-way pipe.

In a preferred embodiment, two valves are disposed respectively at downstream positions of the three-way pipe connected to the cold water pipe 2 and the cold water inlet of the water heater 1, and the supply of water can be cut off conveniently when needed.

Referring to FIG. 2, the working principle of this embodiment of the domestic hot water supply system according to the present invention is as follows:

Step 1, the water pump 8 is turned on, which can be carried out in various ways: 1. the water pump 8 is turned on remotely by using an APP; 2. the water pump 8 is turned on by other terminals of the smart home, such as voice control, a signal sent by a smart lock when an entrance door is open, etc.; 3. the water pump 8 is turned on by pressing a power button on it; 4. the water pump 8 is turned on with a remote controller.

Step 2, after the water pump 8 is turned on, the temperature sensor 91 is started, and the real-time temperature at the temperature sensor 91 is checked and fed back to the water pump 8.

Step 3, the water pump 8 takes actions according to the information of temperature fed back by the temperature sensor 91, when the temperature fed back is lower than the lower limit of a preset temperature range, the control module controls the water pump 8 to start, and when the temperature fed back is greater than or equal to the lower limit of the preset temperature range, the control module does not start the water pump 8.

Step 4, the water pump 8 is started, and the check valve 9 is automatically opened under the action of the water pressure after the water pump 8 is started, so that the cold water in the hot water pipe 3 flows to the cold water pipe 2 through the check valve 9.

Step 5, the temperature sensor 91 detects the real-time temperature every suitable time interval and feeds back to the water pump 8. When the temperature at the temperature sensor 91 reaches the upper limit of the preset temperature range, the water pump 8 automatically stops working.

Step 6, the water pump 8 stops working and waits for the next cycle.

The embodiments described above are merely preferred embodiments for fully illustrating the present invention and the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Equivalent substitutions or alterations made by those skilled in the art based on the present invention are within the scope of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A domestic hot water supply system, comprising a water heater, a cold water pipe and a hot water pipe connected to the water heater respectively at one end, wherein the cold water pipe is connected to a water main at another end, and one or more water points are arranged in parallel between the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe, characterized in that: a water pump is arranged between the water heater and the water point closest to the water heater on the hot water pipe, the water pump has a control module, the control module includes a signal receiver, a check valve is disposed at a farthest water point from the water heater between the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe, and a temperature sensor is disposed on the side of the check valve adjacent to the hot water pipe, and the temperature sensor includes a signal transmitter.
 2. The domestic hot water supply system according to claim 1, wherein a check valve is disposed between the cold water pipe and the hot water pipe at each water point, and a temperature sensor is disposed on the side of the check valve adjacent to the hot water pipe, and the temperature sensor includes a signal transmitter.
 3. The domestic hot water supply system according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor further comprises a power source module.
 4. The domestic hot water supply system according to claim 3, wherein the power source module is self-powered.
 5. The domestic hot water supply system according to claim 3, wherein the power source module includes a plug.
 6. The domestic hot water supply system according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor further comprises a temperature display.
 7. The domestic hot water supply system according to claim 1, wherein the check valve is a solenoid valve.
 8. The domestic hot water supply system according to claim 1, wherein the water main is connected to the cold water pipe and a cold water inlet of the water heater through a three-way pipe.
 9. The domestic hot water supply system according to claim 8, wherein two valves are disposed respectively at downstream positions of the three-way pipe connected to the cold water pipe and the cold water inlet of the water heater. 